Device for redirecting yarn in twisting machines or the like

ABSTRACT

IN A YARN TWISTING MACHINE, FOR REDIRECTING THE ADVANCING YARN FROM A FULLY WOUND SPOOL OF ONE WINDING STATION TO AN EMPTY SPOOL OF ANOTHER WINDING STATION, THERE IS PROVIDED A YARN INLET CHANNEL, TWO YARN OUTLET CHANNELS AND A MOVABLE, SWITCH VALVE-TYPE DEFLECTOR MEMBER CONTAINING A YARN GUIDE CHANNEL, ONE END OF THE YARN GUIDE CHANNEL IS COUPLED WITH THE DOWNSTREAM END OF THE YARN INLET CHANNEL AND THE OTHER END OF THE YARN GUIDE CHANNEL IS COUPLED WITH THE UPSTREAM END OF A SELECTED YARN OUTLET DEPENDENT UPON THE POSITION OF THE DEFLECTOR MEMBER. THE LATTER ALSO INCLUDES A CUTTING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY SEVERING THE YARN EVERY TIME A YARN SWITCHING OPERATION TAKES PLACE.

Nov. 30, 1971 I E. BUCHER ETAL 3,623,313

DEVICE FOR REDIRECTING YARN IN TWISTING MACHINES OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 28, 1970 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 NVENTORS 3 92% avg 5 M Nov. 30, 197] BUCHER ETAL 3,623,313

DEVICE FOR REDIRECTING YARN IN TWISTING MACHINES OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 28, 1970 E5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 30, 1971 E. BUCHER ETAL 3,623,313

DEVICE FOR REDIRECTING YARN IN TWISTING MACHINES OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 28, 1970 I S Shoohz fihmlv .5

FIGS

31 x U FIG.3

Nov. 30, 1971 E. BUCHER ETAL 3,623,313

DEVICE FOR REDIRECTING YARN IN TWISTING MACHINES OR ['HFI LIKE Filed Sept. 28, 1970 5 Sheets-Sheet. 4.

\ a I O e FIG.7

Nov. 30, 1971 E. BUCHER ETAL 3,623,313

DEVICE FOR REDIRECTING YARN IN TWISTING MACHINES OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 28, 1970 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent Ofiice Patented Nov. 30, 1971 3,623,313 DEVICE FOR REDIRECTING YARN IN TWISTING MACHINES OR THE LIKE Erich Bucher, Goppingen, Friedrich Eberbach, Albershausen, and Hermann Giittler, Ebersbach, Germany, assignors to Firma Zinser-Textile-Machinen Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Ebersbach, Germany Filed Sept. 28, 1970, Ser. No. 75,852 Claims priority, application Germany, Sept. 26, 1969, P 19 48 633.0 Int. Cl. D01h 1/06, 13/04 U.S. C]. 57-90 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a yarn twisting machine, for redirecting the advancing yarn from a fully wound spool of one winding station to an empty spool of another winding station, there is provided a yarn inlet channel, two yarn outlet channels and a movable, switch valve-type deflector member containing a yarn guide channel, one end of the yarn guide channel is coupled with the downstream end of the yarn inlet channel and the other end of the yarn guide channel is coupled with the upstream end of a selected yarn outlet channel, dependent upon the position of the deflector member. The latter also includes a cutting device for automatically severing the yarn every time a yarn switching operation takes place.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to machines for twisting or spinning preferably endless yarns. These twisting and spinning machines are of the type that include at least one yarn delivery station and a deflector, by means of which the yarn advanced from the yarn delivery station through a yarn inlet channel may be introduced at will into any one of several separate yarn outlet channels. The yarn, at least for the period during which it is redirected by the deflector from one yarn outlet channel into the other, is drawn by means of an air stream in the direction of the deflector.

The invention finds particular application in twisting or spinning machines for endless yarns in which the yarn advanced from a yarn delivery station may be guided at will to any of several winding stations in such a manner that the yarn may be redirected, without interrupting the yarn delivery and without appreciable losses, from one winding station, the bobbin of which carries a fully wound yarn package to another winding station, the bobbin of which is empty.

In a known twisting or spinning machine of the aforenoted type that operates with a purely pneumatic main deflector, there is disposed, at the location where the yarn inlet channel branches into two yarn outlet channels, an air pressure channel aligned with each yarn outlet channel and oriented towards the inlet opening thereof. The air pressure channels associated with the two yarn outlet channels are alternately actuated and, accordingly, the yarn is guided to that yarn outlet channel which is momentarily exposed to the flow of pressurized air. In addition, as the yarn switches outlet channels, it has to be severed; for this purpose in both yarn outlet channels a separate cutting device is disposed. These cutting devices, however, are relatively complex and it is difiicult to sever the yarn in such a manner that no jamming will occur upon redirection of the yarn from one yarn outlet channel into the other.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION in which the above-mentioned disadvantages are eliminated so that the redirection of the advancing yarn, supplied by a yarn delivering station, from one yarn outlet channel into another is efl'ected in a particularly simple, gentle and operational safe manner even at very high yarn feeding speeds.

Briefly stated, according to the invention, in a spinning or twisting machine of the afore-outlined type, the deflector is formed as a mechanical switch valve including a displaceable deflector member, by means of which fluid communication may be established in a selective, alternate manner between the yarn inlet channel and a desired yarn outlet channel. Prior and subsequent to each switching step, only a single yarn outlet channel communicates with the yarn inlet channel, and further, the said deflector member, together with at least one stationary cutting member disposed therein, forms a cutting device for severing the yarn during the displacement of the deflector member.

The invention will be better understood, as well as further objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent, from the ensuing detailed specification of two exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic, partially sectional elevational view of a draw-twisting machine incorporating a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational sectional view of a detail of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system associated with the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of a detail of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a schematic elevational view of a carouseltype twisting machine incorporating a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevational sectional view of a detail of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view along line VII-VII of 'FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST EMBODIMENT Turning now to FIG. 1, the draw-twisting machine shown therein includes a stretching or drawing device 10 with a yarn delivery station 11 and two winding stations =12 and 13. It is to be understood that the draw-twisting machine may include a great number (for example, as many as 50-100) of drawing devices, eachthen having two associated yarn winding stations.

The machine shown in FIG. 1 further includes a spool support 14 on which there is inserted a spool 15 carrying a package of endless synthetic yarn which is to be stretched three to four times its original length and which is to be provided with a slight protective twist. The yarn 15 taken from the spool 15 first passes through a yarn guide 16 and is thereafter trained about two godets 17 and 18. From the second godet 18 the yarn enters a drawing zone 19 in which it is stretched by heat treatment eiiected by means of a hot plate 20. The yarn is taken from the drawing zone 19 by a godet 21 with a constant speed, then guided through a yarn tension meter 22. Thereafter, the yarn passes through a first yarn channel 23 and therefrom it enters a deflector head 24 which is shown in more detail in FIG. 2. From the deflector head 24 there extend two yarn outlet channels 25 and 26 to the winding stations 13 and 12, respectively, which are of identical design. As shown in FIG. 1, the winding station 12 has a driven bell 30, a spindle 33 rotated by a driving motor 31 of variable speed and vertically movable in either direction by means of a hydraulic jack 32. In winding station I13, to the aforelisted components there correspond identical parts 30', 31', 32' and 33'. With each spindle 33, 33' there is associated a brake for manually interrupting its rotation.

The godets 17, 18 and 21 are driven by a common motor 35. The bells 30, 30 are driven by a common drive belt 36 from a motor (not shown) with a constant r.p.1n., preferably in a sense opposite to the rotational direction of spindles 33, 33'. In FIG. 1, the spindles 33, 33' are shown in their lowest position in which no yarn is wound thereon. During operation, however, there is at all times at least one spindle in such a position that the spool inserted thereon extends into the inner space of the bell and thus is in a position to receive the advancing yarn. After a spool is fully wound, as in the case of the left hand spool 34, it is moved downwardly into its shown lowest position by lowering its associated spindle. In this lowest position then an empty spool is substituted for the completed yarn package. Similarly, as soon as the other spool is fully wound, an empty spool will be substituted therefor. At any time when a spool is fully wound, the yarn, by means of the deflector head 24, is redirected from the then operational yarn outlet channel into the other yarn outlet channel which leads to the winding station then having an empty spool. In this manner, the yarn may be wound alternately on the two spindles of the winding stations 12 and \13 without interruption undergoing at the same time a twisting treatment. Such twisting is, as usual, only slight in a stretchtwisting machine as shown.

Each yarn outlet channel 25 and 26 extends from the deflector head 24 through a rotary coupling (not shown) to the vicinity of the lowest location of the associated bell wherebyas illustrated in case of bell 30- the mouth 27 of the yarn outlet channel is horizontal and is oriented tangentially to the empty spool 34'. In this manner it is achieved that the yarn is blown by means of air through the yarn channel .23, deflector head 24 and the yarn outlet channel 25 or 26 onto a respective empty spool in such a manner that the latter, by virtue of its rotation, automatically takes up the same.

The yarn passes through two consecutive blow nozzles 37 and 38 which correspond in principle to known water jet pumps. The pressurized air is admitted-for example, with a pressure of 6 k./cm. to nozzles 37, 38 through a respective conduit 39, 40 indicated with dash-dot lines. The air blown by the first nozzle 37 flows through the downwardly extending yarn channel 23 and therefrom through a short air gap, into the upper inlet opening of the second nozzle 38 which also receives pressurized air from the conduit 40. The second nozzle 38 directs the pressurized air into the yarn inlet channel 41 of the deflector head 24 in the direction of arrow A (FIG. 2).

With the exception of the deflector head 24 and the association of two winding stations 12 and 13 with each yarn delivery station 11, the draw-twist machine may be of any known construction. The structure of the individual winding stations 12 and 13 corresponds in principle to that of a device for winding yarns disclosed in published German application (Offenlegungsschrift) No. 1,435,344. The tension of the yarn to be wound is set preferably to a constant value. The control of the yarn tension is effected by varying the rpm. of the individual spindle drive motors 31, 31' by means of a regulator 44 (FIG. 3). At the time the yarn is redirected from one winding station containing a fully wound spool to the adjacent winding station having an empty spool, the spindle carrying the empty spool is driven with an r.p.m. which is necessary to obtain approximately the required yarn tension as the yarn is wound on the empty spool. Simultaneously with the redirection of the yarn to the new winding station, the yarn tension regulating device is switched, so that it affects henceforth the spindle r.p.m.

of only that spindle drive motor which is associated with the newly activated winding station.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a circuit for effecting a yarn tension control. The output of the yarn tension meter 22 is compared with the value of desired yarn tension transmitted by a device 42 and the difference between the desired and actual value, which is formed at location 43, is applied to the regulator 44. The output signal of the regulator 44 is the control magnitude for the spindle drive motors. This output signal is, by means of switch 45, alternately applied to the spindle drive motor 31 or 31. The spinde drive motor which is momentarily not connected to the regulator 44 through the switch 45, is controlled or regulated in such a manner (not shown), that it continues to rotate with the abovementioned predetermined r.p. m. as necessary for the automatic takeup of a yarn by an empty rotating spool.

The switch 45 is coupled with an actuating device 46 for adjusting a movable deflector member 47 of the deflector head 24 in such a manner that the regulator 44 is always connected to that spindle motor, to the associated Winding station of which the yarn is directed.

Turning now to FIG. 2, the deflector head 24 shown therein includes an auxiliary deflector 48 and, downstream thereof, a main deflector 49. Since deflectors 48 and 49 are of identical structure, only the main deflector 49 will be discussed in detail. Thus, the main deflector 49 comprises a mechanical switch valve-type rotary plug 47 provided with two adjacent throughgoing channels 50, 51. Corresponding identical parts in the auxiliary deflector 48 are designated with 47, 50' and 51.

The auxiliary deflector 48 is associated with a yarn inlet channel 41 and two yarn outlet channels 52, 55, whereas the main deflector 49 is associated with a yarn inlet channel 52 (which is a yarn outlet channel when related to auxiliary deflector 48) and two yarn outlet channels 25, 26. In the position of the plug 47 shown in FIG. 2, the channel 50 connects the yarn inlet channel 5-2 with the yarn outlet channel 25. By a clockwise rotation of a relatively small angle, the plug 47 may be brought into a position in which the other channel 51 connects the yarn inlet channel 52 with the other yarn outlet channel 26.

In order that during each switching of the rotary plug 47 the throughgoing yarn is simultaneously severed, there are provided automatic cutting means formed of a sleeve 53 resiliently pressed against the outer face of the plug 47 by means of a spring 54. It is seen that the inside of sleeve 53 constitutes the yarn channel 52. The cutters proper are formed by the sharp edge of the outlet of the sleeve 53 and the sharp edge of the inlet of channels 50 and 51. The sleeve 53 is positioned in the main body of the deflector head 24 in an axially displaceable manner and is secured against rotation by means of a screw 56 extending in a longitudinal slot provided in the lateral face of deflector head 24. Upstream of auxiliary plug 48 there are disposed a sleeve 53' (the inside of which constitutes the yarn inlet channel 41), a spring 54' and a screw 56 which have a structure, arrangement and function identical to parts 53, 54 and 56 described hereinabove.

The redirection of the yarn from one channel into the other is performed according to the invention in such a manner that at the time of yarn severance, the particular channel 50 or 51 of plug 47 (or 50' or 51' of plug 47) which is to receive the yarn after severance, is already in communication with the adjoining yarn inlet channel 52 (for plug 47) or 41 (for plug 47'). At the same time, that channel which guides the yarn prior to its severance, at the time of the severance communicates only through a narrow passage with the respective yarn inlet chanel 52 or 41. Such a result, as shown in FIG. 4, is achieved in a simple manner by ensuring that the distance between the adjacent inlet openings of the two guide channels 50, 51 (or 50', 51) is smaller than the width of the outlet opening of the yarn inlet channel 52 (or 41) measured in the direction of rotational motion of the plug 47( or 47). In FIG. 4, the circular edge of the outlet opening which terminates the yarn inlet channel 52 and which, at the moment illustrated, is about to cut the yarn 15 in cooperation with the inlet opening of the guide channel 51, is shown in dashdot lines. Thus, the plug 47 is shown in a position which it assumes, during switching, at the moment when the yarn is about to be severed. The direction of motion of the plug 47 in this switching operation is indicated by the arrow 57. It is apparent that subsequent to severing the yarn, the terminus of the yarn disposed upstream of the cut, is immediately constrained to enter the now activated channel 50 since, by this moment, the yarn channel 51 which was operational prior to cutting, is almost entirely closed.

Since during the severing operation, the yarn is briefly clamped, the switching operation has to be perfomed rapidly. There have been no difliculties encountered in any of the machines operating with the usual yarn feed speeds to switch the rotary plug in such a rapid manner that no yarn accumulation occurs.

The mode of operation of the draw-twisting machine described hereinabove is apparent from the foregoing structural description. For this reason only complementary remarks are set forth.

The auxiliary deflector 48 is needed only during the start of the machine. Thus, during the starting phase of the machine, the auxiliary deflector is set to such a position that the advanced yarn is guided to neither of the winding stations, but, through the guide channel 51' and the yarn outlet channel 55, is discharged outwardly to a scrap collecting station. This setting of the auxiliary deflector 48 is maintained as long as the treatment (i.e. drawing by application of heat) of the yarn has not reached its stable condition. As soon as such a condition is reached, however, the auxiliary deflector 48 is switched into its position shown in FIG. 2, whereby the yarn is directed through guide channel 50' into channel 52, permitting the start of the winding on the spool of one of the two winding stations 12 or 13. Each time a spool is fully wound, the main deflector 49 is switched to the other winding station in which, in the meantime, an empty spool has been inserted. As already described, the new yarn end is automatically picked up by the empty spool and is thus positioned thereon without the necessity of manual aid.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SECOND EMBODIMENT In FIG. there is shown a carousel-type twisting machine for the draw-twisting of yarns, incorporating a second embodiment of the invention illustrated in detail in FIGS. 6 and 7. The machine 59 comprises two structure groups relatively rotatable with respect to one another: a first structure group 63, including six drawing devices 60, six yarn delivery stations 61 with associated yarn inlet channels 62, and a second structure group 64 including seven winding stationn A-G with associated yarn outlet channels 65. The first structure group 63 is stationary, while the second structure group 64 is mounted on a turret 66 rotated with a constant r.p.m. With the seven winding stations there are associated, through a deflector head 67, only six yarn delivery stations 61, so that at any time spools at six winding stations may simultaneously receive yarn. T hus, out of the seven spools-each of which is inserted on a spindle 6one is idle at any time.

Each drawing device 60 delivers, in an uninterrupted manner, an endless synthetic yarn which is wound on a spool at a winding station and which is provided with a protective twist. In FIG. 5 only three drawing devices 60 and three associated spools carrying the untreated yarn and mounted on the spool carriers 14 are shown.

The individual winding stations AG are, in principle, designed identically to the winding stations of the drawtwisting machine according to FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, each winding station A-G has a spindle 69 driven by an associated motor 71 and vertically movable by means of a pneumatic or hydraulic jack 70. Each winding station further has a bell 72, all driven with constant, uniform r.p.m. by means of a sole common endless tangential belt 73 from a motor (not shown). The driving motors 71 of the spindles 69, on the other hand, are rpm-regulated in a manner similar to that described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, the rpm. of the driving motors 71, the associated spindles of which are in the process of receiving yarn, are controlled by a regulator in such a manner that the tension of each yarn in the range of the associated yarn tension meter 74 is set to a desired, preferably constant value. The r.p.m. of the momentarily idle spindle is set to such a constant value that during the positioning of the yarn on the empty spool, the yarn tension which is eventually determined by the yarn tension regulator, is already approximately set to that value.

The deflector head 67 includes a total of six deflector members which are sequentially switched in a manner described in greater detail hereinbelow.

An embodiment of a deflector head 67 adapted to be incorporated in the draw-twisting machine 59, is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The deflector head 67 has a dish-shaped lower portion or base 75 which is axially aligned with the turret 66 and is rigidly aflixed thereto. Base 75 contains seven yarn outlet channels 65, each extending to the vicinity of the underside of an associated bell 72. The outlet opening of each channel 65, similarly to the embodiment described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2, is horizontal and is approximately tangentially oriented with respect to the empty spool inserted on the respective spindle. In this manner, the yarn emerging from said outlet opening is positioned automatically on the rotating empty spool. The upper parts of the yarn outlet channels 65 do not participate in the rotation of the bells 72, whereas the parts of the yarn outlet channels 65 disposed within the bells 72 turn therewith and are connected with the upstream located parts of the outlet channels by means of a rotary coupling (not shown). The inlet openings of the outlet channels 65 are disposed in an inner, horizontal face 76 of the base 75. In the latter, between each two yarn outlet channels 65 there is positioned a yarn ejecting channel 77, the inlet openings of which are flush with the inlet openings of the yarn outlet channels 65. The yarn ejecting channels 77 extend almost over the entire central are between the inlet opening of adjacent yarn outlet channels 65 (FIG. 7).

The deflector head 67 further includes a central stationary carrier 78 which is rigidly connected with a supporting frame-work of the first structure group 63 and to which there is firmly attached a ring 79. Through the latter there extend the six yarn inlet channels 62 which are arranged in a circular array equally spaced from one another. The initial portion (not shown) of each yarn inlet channel 62 is connected to a blow nozzle (also not shown) which introduces air under pressure into the yarn inlet channels 62. In this manner, the yarn is blown through the deflector and then through the yarn outlet channel onto the spindle. The carrier 78 pivotally supports six deflector members 90, the pivotal axes of which are parallel to the axis of the carrier 78 and are arranged in a circular array equally spaced from one another. Each deflector 90 is supported by means of two aligned pivot pins, one of which is integral with the ring 79, while the other forms part of a base ring 91 concentrically aflixed to the carrier 78. The radial distances of the pivotal axis of each deflector member 90 from the axis of rotation of the turret 66 are indentical.

Each deflector member 90 is biased in one direction of its possible pivotal motion by an associated tensiom'ng spring 92 urging it against a radial abutment pin 93, two associated with each deflector member 90' and radially movably held in an upper portion of base 75. Each abutment pin 93 is associated with an electromagnet 94 which, when in an energized condition, pulls the associated abutment pin 93 radially outwardly to such an extent that it clears the travelling path of the associated deflector member 90 which, as a result, is free to rotate counterclockwise (when viewed in FIG. 7), until it abuts an adjacent abutment pin 93. At that time, the latter is in a radially inwardly advanced (operative) position and does not engage any other deflector member 90. Since the abut- 8 fully wound spool completed at the end of the preceding cycle step at another winding station.

At the end of cycle step 1, the spool at the winding station A is fully wound and the abutment pin 93 arresting that deflecting member 90 through which yarn was ment pins 93 belong to the second structure group 64 and supplied to the spool now full, is electromagnetically consequently rotate with the turret 66, whereas the dedrawn outwardly. Thereupon, the last-named deflector flector members 90 are mounted on the non-rotating carmember 90 is automatically switched, so that it swings rier 78 of the first structure group 63, it follows that by over to outlet channel 65 of yarn winding station G, virtue of the rotation of the turret 66, the deflector mem- 10 supplying henceforth that station with yarn. Thereby the bers 90 are continuously swung clockwise and therefore cycle step 2 begins, at the end of which the spools of the springs 92 are continuously tensioned. the winding stations A-G have a degree of completion Each deflector member 90 has a yarn guide channel as given in the table for step 2.

95 which is in continuous alignment with an associated Since now the spool at the winding station B is full, yarn inlet channel 62 and is closely coupled thereto. Furat the end of step 2 the deflector member 90 supplying ther, each deflector member 90 is, in a manner not shown, yarn to that winding station until that moment, is switched resiliently urged against the horizontal face 76 of the to the winding station A. As a result, winding operation lower part 75. The circumferential edges of the outlet starts there, so that now cycle step 3 takes place. The comopenings of the guide channels 95 and the circumferential pleted spool at the winding station B is, during step 3, edges of the inlet openings of the yarn outlet channels 65 replaced by an empty spool. As seen from the table, this and of the yarn ejection channels 77 are machined sharp process continues step by step, whereby the duration of so that they constitute a yarn severing mechanism to cut each such cycle step corresponds to the full winding automatically the respective yarn during switching of a period of one spool divided by the number of yarn delivery deflector member 90. stations.

Since in this embodiment the switching motions of the The turret 66 may rotate with a constant r.p.m. The deflector members 90 are relatively large, the yarn is cut energization of the electromagnets 94 occurs automatitwice during each switching operation: once during the cally as a function of the position of the turret 66. During transfer from the previously operative yarn outlet channel each switchig of a deflector member 90, the driving motor 65 to a yarn ejection channel 77 and once during the of the spindle driven until then is automatically disconsubsequent transfer from the yarn ejection channel 77 to nected from the r.p.m. regulator and is set a determined the newly activated yarn outlet channel 65. Since the r.p.m. which is necessary for an automatic positioning of switching motion of the deflector member 90 occurs the yarn end on the newly activated spool. The regulator is rapidly, the yarn ejection channel 77 discharges only it simultaneously connected to ,the spindle drive motor of relatively length of Y as P- the newly activated winding station, so that it regulates y thfi tlme a swltchlng of 90 the r.p.m. thereof as a function of the tension of the yarn started, the spool of the assoc ated WlIldlllg station is dehvhred to the newly activated Winding Station fully wound, whereas the winding tatI to be newly The springs 92 of the deflector members 90' are conactwated already.equlpped with an empty Spool Whlch tinuously automatically tensioned by virtue of the rotawas substituted earlier for a fully wound spool. of th tu t 66 h h h 1 i1 t The carousel-type twisting machine described herein- 1 e rte m Sue a manna? at eac e ec or above and illustrated in FIGS. 5-7 operates automatically mefnber may swmg countercloqkwlse after the magnetin a cyclical manner indicated in the table appended at l l wlthdmwal. the assoclated, abutment pm 93 the end of the specification. This table shows the degree untll 1t abuts adlacent abutment Pm m which the yam Packages Wound on the Spools of the After every SIX subsequent cycle steps, the turret 66 Seven i di Stations are completed at the end of has rotated through an angle which is identical to the secsuccessive cycle steps. As seen, the spools at the individual tor angle between two adjacent Winding Statiolls- It is windi t ti A G at any particular moment, understood that all winding stations are spaced from one completed to different degrees with respect to one another. anothfir at identical Sector angles- After the Completion Thus, observing the winding stations in a clockwise manof the tfirst six cycle steps, the winding station G has taken ner in succession in FIG. 7, it is seen that the degree of the Place Of the Winding Station A accordingly, all completion of the spools decreases by /6 from spool to other winding stations have been similarly shifted. Thus, spool. In the table, each horizontal row indicates the one full rotation of the turret 66 will occur upon the simultaneous termination of a cycle step at all seven completion of 42 cycle steps.

APPENDIX Winding station A B C D E F G Cycle step:

3 1/6 Empty Full 5/6 4/6 3/6- 4.- 2/6 1/6 Empty Full 5/ 3/6 3/6 5, 3/6 2/6 1/6 Empty- Fu11 5/6 6.. 4/6 3/6 2/6 1/6 Empty. Full 5/6.

7 5/6 4/6 2/6 2/6 1/6 Empty Full.

42 5/6 4/6 3/6 2 6 1 6 Empty nun.

winding stations. It is seen that as each cycle step is terminated, the spool of one winding station has been fully What is claimed is: :1. In a device for redirecting yarn in a twisting machine wound and an empty spool has been substituted for a or the like, said machine being of the type that includes (A) at least one yarn delivery station, (B) a yarn inlet channel associated with and disposed downstream of said yarn delivery station and containing the yarn advanced therefrom, (C) a plurality of yarn outlet channels disposed downstream of said yarn inlet channel, the number of said yarn outlet channels is larger at least by one than the number of the yarn inlet channels, said yarn outlet channels selectively receive the yarn from a yarn inlet channel, (D) a plurality of yarn winding-stations, one associated with each yarn outlet channel and disposed downstream thereof to receive yarn therefrom for winding, the improvement comprising,

(A) a deflector member movably disposed downstream of said yarn inlet channel and upstream of said yarn outlet channels, said deflector member containing through-going guide channel means,

(B) means for moving said deflector member into at least two positions, in each of which said guide channel means connects said yarn inlet channel with a sole, diiferent yarn outlet channel,

(C) cutting means formed on said deflector member and on an additional element in sliding engagement therewith to sever said yarn upstream of said yarn outlet channels during the motion of said deflector member from one position to another and (D) means delivering, in the direction of yarn advance, fluid under pressure through said yarn inlet channel, said yarn guide channel and the yarn outlet channel connected therewith.

-2. An improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said deflector member is formed as a rotary plug.

3. An improvement as defined in claim 2, wherein said deflector member contains a plurality of juxtaposed guide channels constituting said guide channel means, the number of said guide channels equals the number of possible positions of said deflector member; in each different position of said deflector member said yarn inlet channel is connected to a different yarn outlet channel by a different guide channel.

4. An improvement as defined in claim 3, wherein said yarn inlet channel includes an outlet opening and each guide channel includes an inlet opening selectively alignable with the outlet opening of said yarn inlet channel, the distance between two immediately adjacent inlet openings on said deflector member is smaller than the dimension of said outlet opening of said yarn inlet channel measured in the direction of rotation of said deflector member.

5. An improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said cutting means on said deflector member is constituted by a sharp terminal edge bounding said yarn guide channel means; said cutting means on said additional element is constituted by a sharp terminal edge bounding at least one yarn channel adjoining said deflector member and at least partially contained in said additional member; said sharp edges cooperate to sever the yarn during motion of said deflector member toward a new position, but prior to reaching the same.

6. An improvement as defined in claim 5, including spring means to resiliently urge said additional element into contact with said deflector member.

7. An improvement as defined in claim 1, including (A) a yarn ejecting channel,

(B) an auxiliary deflector member movably disposed upstream of the first-named deflector member and in the path of said yarn inlet channel, said auxiliary deflector member contains throughgoing guide channel means, said auxiliary deflector member is movable into a first and into a second position; when in said first position, the guide channel means of said auxiliary deflector member connect the yarn inlet channel with said yarn ejecting channel and interrupt communication between said yarn inlet channel and said first-named deflector member; when in said second position, the guide channel means of said aux- 1O iliary deflector member connect the yarn inlet channel with said first-named deflector member and interrupt communication between said yarn inlet channel and said yarn ejecting channel and (C) cutting means formed on said auxiliary deflector member and on an additional element in sliding engagement therewith to sever said yarn upstream of said first-named deflector member during the motion of said auxiliary deflector member from one of its position to the other.

8. An improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein each yarn outlet channel has an inlet opening, said improvement includes a yarn ejecting channel having an inlet opening disposed between the inlet openings of two adjacent yarn outlet channels; during the motion of said deflector member from one position to another, said yarn inlet channel is temporarily connected with said yarn ejecting channel by said yarn guide channel means; said cutting means includes sharp edge means to sever said yarn once during motion of said yarn guide channel means toward said yarn ejecting channel and once during the motion of said yarn guide channel means from said yarn ejecting channel towards a yarn outlet channel.

9. An improvement as defined in claim 8, wherein said sharp edge means are formed about an outlet opening of said yarn guide channel means in said deflector member and about the inlet openings of said yarn outlet channels and said yarn ejecting channel.

10. An improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said throughgoing guide channel means includes a single yarn guide channel in continuous communication with said yarn inlet channel and in communication with a selected yarn outlet channel dependent upon the position of said deflector member.

11. An improvement as defined in claim 1, including a plurality of yarn inlet channels each associated with a separate yarn delivery station, the number of said yarn outlet channels is larger by one than the number of said yarn inlet channels, a deflector head comprising a plurality of deflector members, the number ofwhich equals the number of said yarn inlet channels, each deflector member is in continuous communication with one yarn inlet channel and with a selected one of two yarn outlet channels dependent upon the position of the last-named deflector member.

12. An improvement as defined in claim 11, including turret means to support said yarn outlet channels and said yarn winding stations and rotate them as a unit.

13. An improvement as defined in claim 12, wherein said deflector members, said yarn outlet channels and said yarn winding stations are arranged each in a uniformly spaced, concentric circular array; said improvement includes means for moving said deflector members, one at a time, from one position to another in sequence at determined intervals; each deflector member is moved from one position to another when the winding station supplied with yarn through the guide channels means of the associated deflector member contains a fully wound yarn package and another winding station associated with the same last-named deflector member is empty; during each said interval said turret means rotates said yarn outlet channels and said yarn winding stations as a unit with respect to said yarn inlet channels through an angle which equals the sector angle between two adjacent yarn winding stations divided by the number of the yarn delivery stations.

14. An improvement as defined in claim 11, including means for moving said deflector members, one at a time, from one position to another in sequence at determined intervals; each deflector member is moved from one position to another when the winding station supplied with yarn through the guide channel means of the associated deflector member contains a fully wound yarn package and another winding station associated with the same last-named deflector member is empty; said interval between moving two deflector members equals the time 1 1' 1 2 needed for completing a yarn package in any one winding 2,882,675 4/ 1959 Tingas 5775 station divided by the number of yarn delivery stations. 3,014,262 12/ 1961 Morgan 5790 X 3,535,868 10/1970 Schiltknecht 5790 X References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,774,211 12/1956 Sipsey 5734 U.S. Cl. X.R. 2,778,186 1/ 1957 Luttgen et a1. 5774 X 5734 R, 74, 106

5 JOHN PETRAKES, Primary Examiner 

